SAO PAULO — Four female players from River Plate have been arrested by the police in São Paulo, facing accusations related to a racial slur incident. According to the public security Secretariat of São Paulo, the arrest took place following a heated semifinal match of the Brazil Ladies Cup, where River Plate was set to compete against the Brazilian team Grêmio.
The match was halted in the first half after player Candela Díaz was alleged to have made monkey gestures directed at a ball boy, as depicted in video footage and reported by local news outlets. Alongside Díaz, her teammates Juana Cangaro, Milagros Naiquen Diaz, and Camila Ayelen Duarte were also detained. Their attorney, Thais Sankari, confirmed that the players were still in custody the following day.
Sankari insisted that the players only reacted in self-defense against provocation. “In our view, this decision reflects a significant arbitrariness, indicating a desire from the Brazilian judicial system to deliver a broader message. This case has been leveraged for that purpose,” she stated.
After the incident involving Díaz, players from Grêmio chose to leave the field in protest. The situation escalated, resulting in the referee issuing red cards to six players from River Plate due to a confrontation on the field, ultimately leading to the match’s conclusion since the minimum number of players required to proceed was no longer met. The game was tied at 1-1, but the referee awarded a victory to Grêmio, allowing them to advance to the final, scheduled for the upcoming Sunday.
In response to the unfolding events, the Brazil Ladies Cup announced on Saturday a two-year ban on River Plate from future participation in the tournament. Organizers also communicated that any teams involved in racial misconduct in subsequent editions would be immediately banned. They reiterated their commitment to an anti-racist stance, making it clear that such incidents would not be tolerated.
Grêmio expressed their support for their players, who are expected to file a police report regarding the situation. “We deeply regret the incident and vehemently condemn any form of discrimination,” the club asserted in their statement. Coach Thaissan Passos revealed that her players had previously endured derogatory remarks from River Plate players. She remarked, “Such occurrences cannot continue. How long will we act as if racism is not a reality?”
Currently, Díaz has not issued any public comments on the matter. River Plate has also expressed condemnation of the alleged discriminatory behavior. The club stated through social media that they are implementing necessary disciplinary actions and will persist in their endeavors to eliminate such attitudes from the sport.
